Gymnastic apparatus for walking and running exercises

ABSTRACT

A gymnastic apparatus for walking and running exercises, comprising a platform for resting on the floor which is provided in an upper region with a pair of bars for user grip and forms a treading surface for walking and running in place; the treading surface is constituted by a plurality of parallel rollers that are supported so that they can rotate freely transversely within the platform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Apparatuses of the most disparate types have long been known forperforming physical activities, such as gymnastics, suitable inparticular to simulate walking and running in place according to therhythms and requirements of the user.

[0002] Moreover, the practice of walking and running in place in anaquatic environment, i.e. for example in a swimming pool, has recentlybecome widespread both in the sports field and in centers specialized inrehabilitation therapies. Apparatuses that have characteristicsspecifically defined to ensure reliable operation in the aquaticenvironment have been devised for this purpose in order to allow theuser to enjoy particular benefits, such as intensification of theefforts caused by hydrodynamic resistance to movement and the massagingaction of water on the muscles.

[0003] These apparatuses are inherently scarcely flexible and haveseveral drawbacks that are mainly due to the constructive complicationsintroduced in order to ensure their correct operation in an aquaticenvironment; moreover, in order to allow their installation they oftenlead to substantial modifications to the structure and bottom of theswimming pool, with expensive work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-citeddrawbacks, by providing an apparatus for performing physical trainingactivities, in particular a gymnastic apparatus that is flexible andversatile, i.e., allows to perform walking- and running-in-placeexercises in any environment, including aquatic environments such asswimming pools.

[0005] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to providea sports apparatus that has a simple and lightweight structure and iseffective and reliable in use.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a gymnasticapparatus that can be disassembled and transported easily without theintervention of specialized technicians and furthermore does not requiremodifications to the environment in which it is intended to be used.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a sportsapparatus that is suitable to massage the sole of the feet whileperforming walking or running exercises.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a sportsapparatus that is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, safein use, effective in operation, and has a relatively low cost.

[0009] This aim and these and other objects that will become betterapparent hereinafter are achieved by the present gymnastic apparatus forwalking and running exercises, characterized in that it comprises aplatform for resting on the floor which is provided in an upper regionwith a pair of bars for user grip and forms a treading surface forwalking and running in place, said treading surface being constituted bya plurality of parallel rollers that are supported so that they canrotate freely transversely within said platform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Further characteristics and advantages of the present inventionwill become better apparent from the following detailed description of apreferred but not exclusive embodiment of a sports apparatus for walkingand running exercises according to the invention, illustrated by way ofnon-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sports apparatus according tothe invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a partially sectional perspective view of a detail ofthe front portion of the platform;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a partially sectional perspective view of a detail ofthe rear portion of the platform;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a partially sectional perspective view of a detail ofone of the rollers.

[0015] In the embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, givenin relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged withother different characteristics that exist in other embodiments.

[0016] Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already knownduring the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to bedeleted from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] With reference to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 1 generallydesignates a sports apparatus for walking and running exercisesaccording to the invention. The apparatus is designed to be placed andused in any environment, for example a sports environment or arehabilitation therapy center, and is particularly suitable to beinstalled also in an aquatic environment, typically a pool or tub: insuch an environment it is in fact possible to utilize hydrodynamic dragin order to intensify the efforts and produce a massaging effect on themuscles.

[0018] The sports apparatus comprises a platform 2 for resting on afloor surface (for example the bottom of the pool), which is preferablymade of a metallic material that is particularly resistant to corrosionand oxidation and is constituted by a front portion 3 (FIG. 2), acentral portion 4 and a rear portion 5 (FIG. 3); the central portion 4of the platform forms a treading surface 6 that is suitable to performwalking- and running-in-place exercises.

[0019] The resting platform 2 is provided at an upper region with twogrip bars 7 in order to keep the user balanced during the execution ofthe exercises and in the correct position at the treading surface 6. Thebars 7 have a slender tubular shape, are substantially folded in anL-shaped configuration and are connected, at their respective front ends8, to a sort of slender tubular arch 9 that protrudes substantiallyvertically from the front portion 3 of the platform 2; at the rear ends10, said bars are fixed to the rear portion 5 of the platform,preferably to its sides, so as to diverge slightly from the front towardthe rear.

[0020] The arch 9 is connected to the front portion 3 of the platform bymeans of a first pair of detachable lower couplings 11; the bars 7 areconnected respectively to the arch 9 and to the rear portion 5 of theplatform by means of a second pair 12 and a third pair 13 of detachablecouplings. Each one of the couplings 11, 12, 13 is preferablyconstituted by a male portion 14, which is inserted in a female portion15 and can be locked for example by means of a pair of screws 16 (seeFIG. 3 in particular). Moreover, two eyes 17 are further rigidly coupledrespectively to the second pair of couplings 12 in order to engage theopposite ends of a safety belt for disabled users.

[0021] The platform 2 comprises a front bar 18 and a rear bar 19, whichare substantially transverse and tubular and have, at their respectiveends, sorts of substantially cylindrical caps 20 made of anti-slipmaterial (for example rubber) for stable resting on the floor. Moreover,wheels 21 are provided for carrying the apparatus and are rigidlycoupled to the front bar 18.

[0022] A central upright 22 and two lateral uprights 23 are rigidlycoupled by welding to the front bar 18, rise vertically, and are eachprovided at their top with a respective front plate 24; a centrallongitudinal member 25 and two lateral longitudinal members 26 are fixedrespectively on the front plates 24, and each longitudinal member issubstantially shaped like or extended along a path that forms a brokenline and forms respective inclined portions 27 that form a preset andsuitable angle with respect to the plane of the floor. The rear portionsof the lateral longitudinal members 26 and of the central longitudinalmember 25 are fixed, preferably by welding, above respective rear plates28 that are rigidly coupled to the rear bar 19.

[0023] The lateral longitudinal members 26 and the central longitudinalmember 25 are interconnected by means of a plurality of cross-members 29that have a substantially square cross-section; in particular, thecross-members are engaged by interlocking in respective recessesprovided in an upper region and in a lower region and are fixed thereatby screw means 30.

[0024] A front footboard 31 and a rear footboard 32 that form anti-slipsurfaces are provided at the front portion 3 and at the rear portion 5of the platform 2.

[0025] The treading surface 6 is constituted, according to theinvention, by a plurality of parallel rollers 33, which are supported sothat they can rotate freely in the central portion 4 of the platform. Inparticular, the rollers 33 are grouped into a first set 34 and a secondset 35, which are mutually adjacent and mirror-symmetrical with respectto the plane of symmetry of the platform 2; said sets are suitable to bewalked on by a respective lower limb. The rollers 33 of the first andsecond sets 34, 35 are supported rotatably, by way of their ends, inrespective pluralities of through holes 36 that have axes that lietransversely to the platform, are coaxial in threes and are provided inthe lateral longitudinal members 26 and in the central longitudinalmember 25.

[0026] A respective centering and reference bushing 37 is accommodatedin each of the through holes 36 and is fixed to said hole preferably byseaming (FIG. 4). A substantially tubular sliding bearing 38 is insertedwithin the bushing 37 and is suitable to provide low-friction rotarysupport of the respective end of the roller. The bearing 38 ispreferably made of anti-friction synthetic material, for example such asTeflon.

[0027] Each one of the rollers 33 is advantageously provided with acovering 39 (FIG. 2) made of a substantially soft and elasticallyyielding material, for example such as rubber, in order to cushion theimpact of the feet of the user and make it comfortable.

[0028] The method of use of the gymnastic apparatus according to theinvention is intuitive. The user climbs onto the rear footboard 32 andthen reaches the treading surface 6, where he can perform walking andrunning exercises on the rollers 33 also achieving a beneficial massageof the soles of the feet.

[0029] The apparatus can be disassembled rapidly, is practical andlightweight, and is extremely flexible and usable in any environment,although it is particularly suitable for aquatic environments; at thesame time, its structure is solid, stable and reliable. The restingplatform 2 is provided without resorting widely to welding, withconsequent advantages in terms of production costs and times.

[0030] It has thus been shown that the invention achieves the intendedaim and objects.

[0031] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerousmodifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of theinventive concept.

[0032] In particular, it is possible to fit rollers 33 that aresubstantially twice as long and pass through the central longitudinalmember 25.

[0033] All the details may be replaced with other technically equivalentones.

[0034] In practice, the materials used, as well as the shapes and thedimensions, may be any according to requirements without therebyabandoning the scope of the protection of the appended claims.

[0035] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. BO2003A000171from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gymnastic apparatus for walking and runningexercises, comprising: a resting platform extending along a longitudinaldirection; a pair of bars for user grip which is provided at an upperregion of and above said platform; a treading surface provided at saidplatform so as to allow walking and running in place activities, saidtreading surface being constituted by a plurality of parallel rollersthat are supported so as to be freely rotatable, transversely to saidlongitudinal direction and within said platform.
 2. The gymnasticapparatus of claim 1, wherein said rollers are grouped into a firstroller set and a second roller set, which are adjacent and substantiallymirror-symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry of the platform,perpendicular along said longitudinal direction, each one of said setsbeing suitable to allow walking thereon of a respective, left or right,lower limb of a user.
 3. The gymnastic apparatus of claim 2, whereinsaid platform comprises a central longitudinal member and two laterallongitudinal members provided with respective through holes that aretransverse to said longitudinal direction and coaxial in threes, saidrollers of said first and second sets being rotatably supported by wayof respective ends thereof in said through holes.
 4. The gymnasticapparatus of claim 3, comprising a plurality of centering and referencebushings, with respective sliding bearings inserted therein, each ofsaid bushings being accommodated in a respective one of said throughholes.
 5. The gymnastic apparatus of claim 4, wherein each one of saidsliding bearings is substantially tubular and is made of an antifrictionsynthetic material.
 6. The gymnastic apparatus of claim 4, wherein saidcentering bushings are accommodated inside said respective through holesfixed by seaming.
 7. The gymnastic apparatus of claim 3, comprising anarch that protrudes vertically from a front portion of said platform,each one of said bars being folded so as to be L-shaped and having afront end that is fixed to said arch, and a rear portion that isconnected to a rear portion of said platform.
 8. The gymnastic apparatusof claim 7, comprising detachable coupling for connection of said barsto said platform and to said arch and of said arch to said platform. 9.The gymnastic apparatus of claim 8, wherein said platform comprises,arranged at a central portion and at the front and rear portionsthereof, parallel cross-members that engage in recesses provided alongsaid central longitudinal member and said lateral longitudinal members,and are rigidly fixed in said recesses by way of screw means.
 10. Thegymnastic apparatus of claim 9, wherein each one of said central andlateral longitudinal members is substantially shaped so as to extendlongitudinally along a broken line path and so as to have a respectiveinclined portion that forms a preset angle with respect to a surface ofa resting bottom of an aquatic environment, said through holes beingprovided at said inclined portion.
 11. The gymnastic apparatus of claim1, wherein said platform is made of a metallic material that isresistant to corrosion and to oxidation.